8 things you learn when you have your own place.

I’m still quite baffled at the fact that I’ve now been living in my flat for nearly a year. I love living there even more now than I did when I first moved in, and after years of house shares, student halls and hostels, I’m thankful every day that I have a place I can call my own.

It’s safe to say that you definitely learn a lot about yourself when you move into your own place. I mean, I learned when I was house sharing that I pretty much didn’t have the ability to live with people who couldn’t clean up after themselves (oh god, how I missed my clean-crazy mum hoovering five times a day in uni), but living on your own makes you see yourself in a whole new light…

1. Hoovering is good for the soul

Growing up with a mother who cleans constantly used to drive me insane. She hoovers several times a day; there would be no eating in the living room, shoes off at the door. It would drive me crazy, but now I have my own place I’ve realised I am exactly like her. I hoover daily. I’m constantly smoothing out my bed sheets so there’s not a crease in sight. I’m plumping cushions, I’m wiping work tops. I even got up early this morning to mop my tiled floors. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?! I think the main thing I’ve learned having my own place is just how house proud (read: how much of a clean freak) I really am.

2. How to master carrying everything from the car to the house in one trip

The art of carrying several shopping bags, a handbag and often a suitcase up the stairs to my flat in one go has really shown me the importance of training biceps in the gym. The ability to haul everything up the stairs in one trip, eliminating the need to go back down to my car in the rain/wind/cold to pick up more bags, is a truly admirable feat, I’m sure you’ll agree.

3. It’s totally acceptable to live in your pyjamas

Yep, that’s right. As soon as I get in I change into my pyjamas, even if it’s 2 o’ clock in the afternoon and I’m going to be heading out later. I’m sorry but people who relax at home wearing jeans are simply not to be trusted.

4. The smell of fresh washing is a dream

Here’s another thing I bloody love doing – my washing! There’s something quite therapeutic about pairing up my freshly washed socks after they’ve just whizzed around the washing machine, and the best thing is the smell of my flat after I’ve just done a load. I’ve even taken to waltzing down the home products aisle in the supermarket, sniffing every fabric conditioner to see which smells best, and leaving feeling pretty buzzed off the fumes (get your kicks where you can, kids). Cherry blossom is a favourite, FYI.

5. Cereal is a totally acceptable evening meal

Ahh, this is where my housewife skills dwindle. I must admit that since living on my own I have experimented more with cooking. I can fry eggs now, and can make meatballs, but cooking doesn’t give me the same satisfaction as other homely chores do. A bowl of cereal is totally acceptable in the evening. Or for breakfast, or lunch, or even a mid-afternoon snack…

6. The horror of someone coming over and not adhering to house rules is real

Dan has moved in now that he is working in Cardiff, and thankfully he knows the rules when it comes to keeping the house tidy. He takes his shoes off at the door, knows to close the kitchen door when cooking so the smell doesn’t linger in the bedroom, and always washes up after we eat (he’s a good egg). To be fair, all of my close friends know how crazy I am and that they must adhere to house rules, but I can’t help but feel a twinge shivering down my spine when someone places a cup on the coffee table without a placemat underneath, or when they eat on the sofa and I see crumbs disappearing down the sides.

7. Who needs housemates when you have Coronation Street?

Okay, I’m sorry. But there’s nothing nicer than getting in after a crazy day at work and having nobody to speak to. I love just sitting down, with a plate of hot food, some trash on the tv, and looking like a mess with a pineapple bun and a makeup free face. There’s no one else’s mess to clean up, no fighting over the hob, no listening to anyone or having to repeat the exact same conversations about your day with each individual housemate. Just me, my food and the latest Platt drama on Corrie – bliss.

8. You’re a sassy, independent lady

I think the main thing I’ve learned is that I really love having my own space. I’m so much more independent; I have my own little routines and my own way of doing things, and I can honestly say that being homesick is now a thing well and firmly in the past. I was nervous to move into my own flat. Worried that I would miss the constant hum of other people living in the house, worried that I’d feel lonely and would want to pack up and head home at every opportunity. But in fact I’ve really embraced my own company. It’s great now because Dan is here with me most of the time, so there’s always someone to talk to and someone to help hoover when it all gets too much. But for the most part, I’ve learned to love being alone.

14 Comments

Lucy Cole

February 1, 2018 / 11:09 am

I LOVE this post! Living in a student house I can totally relate to some of these things, but I can't wait to have a place of my own. Living with 6 other people who clearly don't know how to look after themselves can be tough sometimes!! I love a good hoover – it's basically an at-home workout right?!xxLucy | http://www.lucy-cole.co.uk

This post! I couldn't agree with more with 1, 3, 4 & 5. Hoovering is fantastic, the smell of fresh washing reminds me that I'm being a proper adult, pyjamas are the greatest and cereal all day every day. I've definitely learned a lot the hard way when living on my own, too.Kirsty – http://www.journalandstuff.com

Since living on my own I'm an absolute pro at carrying a ton of things from my car haha – I also have to go up 3 flights of stairs!! So glad you love living in your flat (still overdue a visit girlll)Abi | abistreetx

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Hello and welcome to jessie-ann.co.uk, a lifestyle and travel blog written by Jessie-Ann Lewis. I'm a 25 year old journo, currently working as a TV production researcher in Cardiff. I love to travel, take photos, and blog all about it!